Brake mechanism for railway-cars.



H. H. HARVEY. BBAK: MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICAIION msuwn: I4. 1915.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

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HILLMAN I-I. HARVEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BRAKE MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY-CARS.

memos.

Application filed June 14, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HILLMAN H. HARVEY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Brake Mechanisms for Railway-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to brake mechanisms for railway cars and has more particular reference to provision of an improved connection between the break head and break head hanger.

Prior to my invention considerable difliculty and annoyance has been occasioned through the dropping of the brake head and brake beam when the brake shoe is broken or dropped from the brake head. Railway brake shoes are ordinarily secured to the brake head by-a key passing through lugs of the shoe and lugs of the brake head. The hanger extends between the brake head and shoe and in the past has been held in place by the shoe so that if the shoe becomes broken and the parts dropped away or if the brake shoe holding key is removed and the shoe permitted to work out of the brake head the hanger and brake head soon become disconnected, permitting the brake head, the brake beam and attendant parts to drop down on to the rail, in many instances resulting in derailment.

A principal object of this invention is the elimination of this danger of the dropping of the brake head or brake beam through the elimination of any chance of disconnection with the hanger and through the provision of means for securing the hanger and head together, which will be independent of the shoe and key.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such means which may, through a minimum number of operations, be secured upon the brake heads now in use.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such means without adding appreciably to the cost of production of new brake heads and which may be provided upon those already in use at small cost.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 33,856.

Figure l is a side elevation of a brake mechanism embodying my invention; Fig.

2 is a rear View of the same; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same; and Fig. 4 is a perspective of the means provided to secure permanent connection between the brake head and hanger in accordance with my invention.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown on the drawing a Master Car Builders brake head 5 carrying a brakeshoe 6 of any well known or preferred construction which is secured in place bv a key 7 passing through lugs 9 on the brake head. In the forward or shoe receiving face of the brake head a recess 11 is provided in which the hanger 12 may rest. In accordance with the usual construction, this hanger 12 consists of a rod 18 bent to the loop formation shown in Fig. 2. This loop is provided with an end portion 14: which, in accordance with the usual custom, rests in the recess 11, the arms 15 of the loop extending upwardly into hanging connection with a suitable support. So much of the structure as has been already described is old and is only mentioned for the purpose of illustration. It will be noted that the only positive member for retaining the hanger in connection with the brake head is the brake shoe, which in turn is held in place through the key 7. Experience has demonstrated that this key has not infrequently been removed by train men and others desiring it for use as a substitute for some tool or implement and which after use they have frequently failed to replace. Experience has also demonstrated that these keys are frequently stolen while cars are standing in the yards or upon sidings. In any event the removal of the key permits the subsequent loss of the brake shoe and destroys the efiiciency of the connection between the hanger and the brake head,movement of the cars over the tracks in use shaking it free and permitting it to drop down with its end 16 of the brake beam and bracing rod 17.

In order that the connection between the brake head and hanger may be independent of the brake shoe or its fastening means I provide means upon the brake head for holding it permanently in place so long as the parts are in position on the car. This means consists, broadly speaking, of wings extending outwardly above the recess 11 Patented Sept. 5, 19116.

and in front of the sides of the hanger. These wings in the present instance are provided by securing a suitably bent strap 18 to the reinforcing flange 19 of the brake head. This strap is bent upon itself centrally at 21 to provide two parallelly extending arms 22 which are perforated at 23 for the reception of a rivet 24:, which in the assembled structure, extends through them and through an alined aperture in the flange 19. Beyond this point of connection the arms 22 are bent outwardly at right angles at 25 to provide the wings 26 already mentioned. The wings 26 are given a combined length which will permit the hanger to be threaded over them when disposed horizontally or at right angles to its normal position and thereafter turned to vertical position before inserting the central part of the hanger in its recess.

'It is thought that the invention andmany of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and

it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its material advantages, 'the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim 2- 1. A brake head having a recess in its shoe receiving side for thereception of a hanger, and a metal strap embracing a portion at the opposite side of said brake head, and having wings disposed in front of the normal position of a hanger engaging said head to prevent disengagement of said hanger from said head should the shoe be broken away or moved.

2. A brake head and hanger therefor, such brake head having a hanger receiving recess in its forward or shoe receiving face, and a member pivoted above said recess, and having wings extending outwardly in front of the arms of said hanger.

3. A brake head provided with a face adapted for engagement by a hanger, and having a reinforcing rib at its opposite face, and a metal strip bent to embrace said rib and secured thereto, and having wings extending outwardly in front of the normal position of a hanger engaging said head.

Signed in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HILLMAN H. HARVEY.

Witnesses:

J. C. CARPENTER, ESTHER ABRAMS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. 0. 

